Chivas has launched a Blending Kit featuring a selection of whiskies and tools to give Scotch lovers the chance to get hands-on and experience the art of blending in the comfort of their own home.

Chivas’ belief in blending was instilled by founding brothers, James and John Chivas

The perfect gift for any whisky fan, the kit contains four single malt whiskies and one blended grain whisky, each representing a different flavor characteristic: floral, fruity, citrus, creamy, and smoky. Armed with a pipette and a beaker – plus a bottle of one of the world’s best-loved blended Scotch whiskies, Chivas 12, for inspiration – whisky fans are encouraged to explore, experiment and have fun testing their skills and senses to delicately combine the whiskies and craft a blend worth shouting about.

The new release was launched to celebrate the magic of blending Scotch, and to bring the craft to life outside of Chivas Director of Blending Sandy Hyslop’s blending room.

At Chivas we believe that blended is better – in life and in Scotch. Every day I get to indulge in my greatest passion, experimenting with the world’s finest malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary when blended together – and this passion is something I want to share with other whisky fans.

Each component in a blend plays an important role in determining the profile of the finished whisky – I can’t wait to see what creations my fellow blenders around the world put together.– Sandy Hyslop: Chivas Director of Blending – blending Scotch whisky for more than 30 years!

The new release was launched to celebrate the magic of blending Scotch

Chivas’ belief in blending was instilled by founding brothers, James and John Chivas, who pioneered the art in 19th century Scotland. And now, two centuries later, the Blending Kit celebrates Chivas’ continued commitment to bringing together the best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary.

Blended whisky lovers around the world are invited to give it a go themselves and share their success stories on Instagram @ChivasRegal using #MyChivasBlend.

Find an interactive guide to your Blending Kit experience and why blended is better at Chivas.com

Chivas, the original luxury blended Scotch whisky, is causing a stir with its new global creative campaign, Success is a Blend. Rolling out through the line globally from October, the campaign celebrates the belief that blended is better, in life and in Scotch.

Chivas’ belief in blending was instilled by founding brothers, James and John Chivas, who pioneered the art in 19th century Scotland. Two centuries later, Chivas is still demonstrating how the art of blending can create a more complex and generous Scotch. Through Success is a Blend, Chivas looks to champion blended Scotch and demonstrate the cultural truth that our own unique blend is what makes us who we are – and when we collaborate with others we can achieve the greatest success.

The #SuccessisaBlend campaign, created in collaboration with McCann London, marks a creative evolution from previous Chivas campaigns, with striking colour and bold text bringing a fresh look and feel for the Scotch whisky category. All Chivas products will be brought under the Success is a Blend campaign, keeping a common thread across the portfolio that talks to both product and brand values. The nature and design of the campaign allows flexibility for bespoke adaptation in markets around the world, with Success is a Blend being activated in over 45 markets in year one.

The campaign made its debut with the launch of the three-year partnership between Chivas and the world’s biggest football club, Manchester United. Just as Chivas Scotches bring together the best malt and grain whiskies, Manchester United brings together the world’s top footballers, a dedicated Club team and a legion of fans all around the world to create one of the world’s most successful teams. Together Chivas and Manchester United aim to show that blended is better – in life, football and Scotch.

Chivas has had a strong year, recording a return to growth with +5%* value worldwide. There is real momentum behind the brand and we believe this new campaign is going to take us to the next level. It’s a bold move for the category, but – crucially – one that speaks to the very heart of Chivas’ DNA.– Richard Black: Global Marketing Director for Chivas

Ahead of Manchester United’s first European Cup home game of the season, Chivas has unveiled Chivas The Icon 50th Anniversary Limited Edition to celebrate Manchester United’s famous cup victory in Europe in 1968. Four bottles of the limited edition, 50 year old Scotch have been created, to represent each of the goals scored by Manchester United on the memorable night at Wembley.

The second bottle in the limited edition release will be the only bottle in the world available to the public to buy

The new Official Spirits Partner of Manchester United, Chivas, will be gifting the first bottle of the exquisite whisky to a fan who has passionately supported the Club through every high and low. To find out how to be in with a chance to win this priceless whisky, please keep an eye on Manchester United social platforms for further details on how to enter.

The second bottle in the limited edition release will be the only bottle in the world available to the public to buy, going on sale with world-renowned auction house Sotheby’s in an online-only auction from 23rd to 30th November.

At Chivas we believe that blended is better – in life, football and Scotch – so we wanted to use our vast expertise to craft a truly unique blend that embodies the values of a truly unique team. To taste this whisky is to experience some of our oldest, most luxurious and rarest whiskies, some from now lost distilleries, hand-selected and brought together for their exceptional richness and fruity character.

Ever since Chivas’ founding brothers, James and John, first perfected the art of blending, Chivas has never released a whisky more than 30 years old – this limited edition 50 years old blend really is an iconic piece of history.– Sandy Hyslop: Chivas Brothers Director of Blending

Presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter created by expert craftsmen at Dartington Crystal, the liquid is perfectly smooth with an intense concentration of sumptuous flavours, with rich notes of honey, vanilla and dark chocolate, balanced by subtle hazelnut influences from the cask that develop into an exceptionally long, lingering finish.

Each bottle is decorated with a bespoke metal plaque, enshrining the 1968 victory to the bottle’s crest. The fine detail of the plaque has been hand-carved and carefully hand-painted to match the colour of the team’s iconic 1968 shirt, with touches in gold in a nod to their victory.

The third Limited Edition bottle will take pride of place in the Manchester United Museum, before being offered for private sale at an end season event, with proceeds again being donated to the Manchester United Foundation. The final bottle will be placed on display at Strathisla distillery – the home of Chivas in Speyside, Scotland.

Rhys steps in to a leading role where he will share his passion for Scotch whisky on the global stage and bring to life Chivas’ belief that blended is better, in life and in Scotch.

Rhys brings an incredible blend of industry knowledge, experience and success to the role. Formerly General Manager at London’s Happiness Forgets, winner of Best International Cocktail Bar at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, Rhys will be drawing on his 10 years of industry experience to deliver captivating experiences and tantalising serves for Chivas.

Taking part in the Chivas Masters was a huge turning point in my career, helping me learn a lot about myself, Scotch whisky and the path towards achieving success as a team. Perhaps most importantly though, it gave me the opportunity to become part of the Chivas family and really be inspired by the brand and its values.

I’m honoured to now have the opportunity to help bring these values to life and work with the Chivas community around the world.– Rhys Wilson: Chivas Global Brand Ambassador

Rhys steps in to a leading role where he will share his passion for Scotch whisky

We are delighted to welcome Rhys to the team as we have witnessed his charisma and dedication to the brand through his involvement with the Chivas Masters and believe he will bring a fresh new perspective to the role.

We’re looking forward to working closely with him as he helps to strengthen our relationships with the bartending community and showcase our award-winning portfolio as we move from strength to strength globally.– Richard Black: Global Marketing Director for Chivas

Manchester United captain, Antonio Valencia, celebrates on a golden throne during a Chivas film shoot in July in Los Angeles, United States. The film was released to announce Chivas as the “Official Global Spirits Partner” of Manchester United. Photographer: Monroe Alvarez

Chivas has teamed up with the world’s biggest football club, Manchester United, in a three-year global partnership.

The collaboration will see Chivas and Manchester United join forces to celebrate their collective belief that blended is better – in life, football and Scotch.

Manchester United teammates Sergio Romero, Antonio Valencia and Chris Smalling (L-R) raise a glass to the new partnership between Chivas and Manchester United during a film shoot in July in Los Angeles, United States. The film was released to announce Chivas as the “Official Global Spirits Partner” of Manchester United.Photographer: Monroe Alvarez

Just as Chivas brings together Scotland’s best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary in the bottle, Manchester United brings together the world’s best footballers, a dedicated club team and a legion of fans all around the world to create extraordinary results on the pitch.

The partnership was revealed to fans in advance of the Club’s first Premier League home game of the 2018/19 season on Friday 10th August, through a film that explores the unique blend of characteristics that make up the Manchester United team.

Shot in Los Angeles during the Club’s pre-season tour, the film stars an array of Manchester United first team players revealing an often unseen side to them, showing what defines who they are, both on and off the pitch.

Throughout the season, Chivas will be collaborating with Manchester United to demonstrate that blended is better – by encouraging fans to celebrate the blend that makes them unique, and showing that when players collaborate with their teammates they can achieve the greatest success.

Blending has been in our DNA ever since James and John Chivas pioneered the art in 19th century Scotland. Partnering with Manchester United was therefore a natural fit; we both firmly believe that great things can be achieved when we come together – from balancing the perfect blend of malt and grain whiskies that go into our Scotch, to using the perfect combination of players’ skills on the pitch to create a winning team.

We look forward to using our spirit to help showcase the spirit of the Club and its fans all around the world.– Jean-Christophe Coutures: Chairman and CEO at Chivas Brothers

Manchester United defender, Chris Smalling, celebrates in front of a wall of speakers during a Chivas film shoot in July in Los Angeles, United States. The film was released to announce Chivas as the “Official Global Spirits Partner” of Manchester United. Photographer: Monroe Alvarez

Manchester United’s history is built on teamwork and we embrace Chivas’ belief that ‘blended is better.’ Our success both on and off the pitch allows us to bring together the best mix of people who help to make our Club the global name it is today. Each individual has their own skills but the way in which they blend together is what makes us a united team.

It is a pleasure to welcome Chivas as Manchester United’s Global Spirits Partner and we look forward to working together to share this belief with our fans.– Richard Arnold: Group Managing Director at Manchester United

The partnership will be brought to life through a 360 campaign activated across all touchpoints globally from August 2018. Chivas branding will also be displayed on digital perimeter boards at Old Trafford as well as throughout the stadium from the first game on Friday.

Find out more about the partnership and why blended is better at Chivas.com.

Chivas is shaking up the Scotch whisky category with the launch of Chivas XV – a 15 year old blend that challenges conventions around how and when to enjoy Scotch whisky. Created to be enjoyed as part of a high-energy, celebratory moment, Chivas XV proves that a serious whisky doesn’t need a serious setting to be enjoyed.

Chivas XV will be on sale exclusively in Global Travel Retail

Continuing Chivas’ tradition for expert blending, Chivas XV is aged for a minimum of 15 years and selectively finished in Grande Champagne Cognac casks, bringing together two of the world’s most prestigious spirits to seamlessly blend tradition and innovation.

The use of Grande Champagne Cognac casks delivers a rich, refined and velvety interpretation of the traditional Chivas house style.

This combination provides the perfect taste profile for a wide range of contemporary serving styles, encouraging whisky fans to enjoy their favourite spirit in a whole new way – from Chivas XV shots to cocktails designed to emphasise the quality and rich flavour of the whisky during high-energy celebrations.

Chivas XV, named in a nod to both the age statement and the style of traditional Cognac classification, features a contemporary new look, while also sharing the same iconic bottle shape that helps to make Chivas whiskies so recognisable around the world.

Chivas XV is available in two formats to cater for different occasions: an eye-catching gold bottle stands out from the crowd during moments of celebration, while a clear bottle with a sophisticated gold outer carton makes the perfect celebratory purchase or gift.

We know that Scotch whisky fans love Chivas’ generous house style but are also looking to experiment with new tastes, and find new ways in which to enjoy their favourite spirit. Enter Chivas XV – the perfect expression for those who want to celebrate life with a truly luxurious and unique spirit that has been designed specifically with the energy of the consumption occasion in mind.

A disruptive move for the category, Chivas XV presents a more contemporary side to Scotch, and encourages whisky drinkers to create memorable experiences that live on long after the celebration.– Richard Black: Global Marketing Director at Chivas Regal

Chivas XV will be on sale exclusively in Global Travel Retail from 1st July, 2018 at an RRP of $69 for 1L and rolled out globally from 1st October, 2018.

CHIVAS HARNESSES COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN SEARCH FOR THE 2018 CHIVAS MASTERS GLOBAL CHAMPION

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR BARTENDERS WHO CREATIVELY CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF THEIR COMMUNITY

Chivas Regal has launched its search for the 2018 Chivas Masters Global Champion. Now in its fifth year, the Chivas Masters is a global competition that celebrates bartenders who demonstrate cutting-edge skill and creativity and share Chivas Regal’s core values of community, collaboration and generosity.

Launching in 22 countries across six continents, the Chivas Masters offers bartenders a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow their skills in a collaborative environment where they can learn from peers, alumni and industry experts from across the globe. This year, the theme of community will sit at the very heart of the competition, with the national stages challenging participants to produce a Chivas drink that is inspired by someone in their local community. The winner of each of the 22 national finals will go on to the Global Final to represent their market and compete for the coveted title of Chivas Masters Global Champion 2018.

This year’s Global Final will be hosted in the United Kingdom – both in London and at Strathisla distillery in Speyside, the spiritual home of Chivas Regal. Throughout a series of masterclasses and intense individual and team challenges, the bartenders’ skills and creativity will be tested, and they will have to prove that they can be as generous with their expertise as they are with a dram of Chivas Regal, by collaborating with their fellow finalists to achieve shared success.

At the culmination of the six-day programme, the Chivas Masters Global Champion 2018 will be crowned, and will win an all-expenses-paid trip to Tales of The Cocktail 2018 in New Orleans, and the chance to travel the world with Chivas to inspire the bartenders of the future.

At Chivas Regal, we believe that generosity and success go hand in hand – a belief inspired by our founding brothers, James and John Chivas, who shared their success with the local community as their business grew.

These are the values that have influenced the Chivas Masters right from the start, and the reason why in 2018 we are beyond excited to bring the Global Final home to where our brand, values and indeed our own community were born.– Max Warner: Global Brand Ambassador for Chivas Regal

Chivas Regal has revealed the 15 national winners who will compete to be crowned the 2017 Chivas Masters Global Champion, at the Chivas Masters Global Final taking place next month in Tokyo.

Now in its fourth year, the 2017 Chivas Masters Global Final (1st – 5th July) will focus for the first time on the celebrated traditions of Tokyo’s bartending scene – whose unique cocktail customs continue to fascinate and inspire bartenders across the world. Throughout the week, the contestants will take part in a number of individual and team challenges, and will need to showcase both exemplary bartending skills and team spirit to impress the judges.

The 15 finalists, who have each excelled in their national competitions running across four continents, will be hosted in Tokyo by Masahiro Urushido, the first ever Chivas Masters Global Champion. They will be mentored by a distinguished panel of internationally-acclaimed judges, who will share their expertise through a series of inspirational masterclasses.

Our 15 national winners have already hugely impressed us with both their skill and character, but there’s still much more to do if they want to be crowned our 2017 Chivas Masters Global Champion.

The values of community, collaboration and generosity lie at the very heart of this competition, and successful participants must not only impress a world-renowned panel of judges, but demonstrate that they embody these values every step of the way.– Max Warner: Global Brand Ambassador for Chivas Regal

The Chivas Masters cocktail competition is built on Chivas’ belief that great bartending is measured not only by the achievements of an individual, but by the ability to work in harmony with others. The ultimate winner will not only impress with their individual bartending skills, but – crucially – will also prove their ability to work collaboratively with an international bartending team, and inspire others to achieve shared success, through the Chivas Masters Collective team challenge.

I cannot wait to put our contestants through their paces in Tokyo, and see who will walk away with the 2017 title – and beyond that, watch as they, together with their Chivas Masters Collective, take what they have learned to further develop and inspire their bartending communities back home.

– Max Warner

The 2017 Chivas Masters Global Champion will be decided on the evening of Wednesday 5th July, and will win an all-access, all-expenses-paid trip to Tales of The Cocktail 2017 in New Orleans. The winning Chivas Masters Collective team will walk away with the pinnacle of the range, Chivas Regal The Icon, presented in a bespoke decanter with customised Japanese glassware.

Chivas Brothers has announced new roles for revered Master Blenders Colin Scott and Sandy Hyslop. The move coincides with the unveiling of an enhanced Chivas Brothers Blending Team, reinforcing the company’s expertise in crafting world-leading, blended Scotch whisky.

With a career spanning 43 years, Colin Scott brings unparalleled gravitas to the Blending Team and will take on the role of Chivas Regal Custodian Master Blender. A renowned industry leader and innovator, having created Chivas 18 in 1997, Colin will act as a mentor to the Chivas Regal blenders, passing on his knowledge and ensuring traditions, techniques and the signature Chivas Regal style continue to be nurtured through the generations.

Leading the Blending Team will be Sandy Hyslop. With more than 30 years’ experience in blending Scotch whisky, Sandy will take on the newly-created and prestigious role of Director of Blending across the whole Chivas Brothers portfolio. Sandy holds the rare position of being one of just five Master Blenders in the 188-year history of Ballantine’s – a role he has held since 2005 – and will now oversee the creation and blending of all Chivas Brothers blended Scotch whisky.

Enhanced blending team at Chivas Brothers
The team, comprising both familiar and new faces, will continue to drive excellence and craft the celebrated whiskies for the Chivas Brothers iconic ranges.

The team features:

Kevin Balmforth and Dr Calum Fraser, who will take on the roles of Chivas Regal Blenders. As of next year, while their primary commitment will be maintaining quality across the range, they will also spend time travelling the world with Colin, educating consumers on Chivas Regal and its blending traditions.Ashley Smith, Apprentice Blender, who joined the blending team last year and is in the process of learning all aspects of blending, with a focus on Chivas Regal.Willie Henderson, who has 37 years’ experience in the whisky industry with nearly twenty of them focusing on blending. Willie will work across Chivas Brothers’ entire Scotch whisky portfolio supported by Adam Ritchie, who has been with the team for nearly a year.Alan Galloway, who with 16 years’ experience in the industry will work across the portfolio while supporting Sandy exclusively on the Ballantine’s range.

The Chivas Brothers Blending Team brings together an enviable wealth of talent that is set to reinforce the craftsmanship and quality of our whisky-making and continue to drive our business forward.

Excellence is at the heart of Chivas Brothers, and nowhere is this more evident than with industry leaders Colin Scott and Sandy Hyslop, whose new roles will ensure the safeguarding of Chivas Brothers’ iconic and historic brands for the next generation.– Laurent Lacassagne: Chivas Brothers CEO and Chairman

The newly-bolstered team represents the most significant development for the blending department in recent years and is a clear signal of the company’s long-term commitment to excellence in blended Scotch. The setup creates the perfect atmosphere to nurture talent, inspire innovation and pass on the craftsmanship Chivas Brothers is renowned for.

The entire blending department is complemented by Chivas Brothers’ network of Global Brand Ambassadors and Graduate Brand Ambassadors – a team of Scotch whisky and Chivas Brothers experts who travel the globe year round to educate consumers on the company’s brands, safeguarding the prestige and legacy of the portfolio internationally.

A Global Search for the World’s Best Social Enterprise Startups

World-renowned actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, Eva Longoria, has been announced as a judge for The Venture – Chivas Regal’s search to find and support the most innovative startups from across the world.

Eva Longoria will join a panel of expert judges tasked with dividing a portion of Chivas’ $1million fund amongst The Venture finalists; inspirational social entrepreneurs who aim to succeed in business while having a positive impact on the lives of others. Following the continued success of The Eva Longoria Foundation, which helps Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship, Longoria has a wealth of invaluable expertise and advice to offer Chivas’ The Venture finalists.

Now in its second year, Chivas’ The Venture has received over 2,500 applications from scalable and sustainable startups across six continents tackling a range of social and environmental issues. One finalist will represent each of the 27 participating countries in New York in July. Following a series of quarter and semi-final pitches, the grand finalists will have just five minutes to impress Longoria and the other judges with their pitch in front of a live audience at the Chivas’ The Venture Final on July 14th (www.TheVenture.com).

I’m delighted to be part of the judging panel for Chivas’ The Venture and can’t wait to hear the unique stories behind the 27 startups from across the world. Social enterprise has such a huge part to play in the future of business and it is something that is very close to my heart.

Best of luck to all the finalists!– Eva Longoria

Longoria will bring her long-standing passion for entrepreneurship, mentorship and equal opportunities to the panel of judges, which includes Joe Huff (Founder of LSTN Sound Co.), Sonal Shah (founding Executive Director of the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation) and Alexandre Ricard (Pernod Ricard Chairman and CEO).

Joe Huff has been invited to join this year’s judging panel due to his knowledge and experience in founding successful social enterprise LSTN Sound Co. LSTN Sound Co. is an impact-focused company whose core belief is ‘what’s good for the business should be good for the world’. Its goal is to produce premium audio products and uses proceeds from sales to change lives through the power of music. Every purchase helps provide hearing aids to a person in need through charity partner, Starkey Hearing Foundation. In less than three years since LSTN Sound Co’s inception in 2012, the company has been able to help give the gift of sound to over 20,000 people.

Social enterprise is something I have been involved with for many years, I’m hugely passionate about using business as a force for good and believe it is becoming increasingly important in today’s world.

The range of social entrepreneurs at this year’s Chivas The Venture Final is really exciting to see – I can’t wait to meet them in New York and find out more about the businesses.– Joe Huff

From today, Chivas has put the power in the world’s hands; inviting the public to vote for their favourite social entrepreneur to determine how the first $250,000 in funding is split. From May 9th to June 13th people can vote for finalists at www.TheVenture.com. The range of social entrepreneurs is extraordinary, from Julia Römer, the founder of Coolar (Germany), who has developed innovative refrigerators powered by warm water that enable doctors to preserve lifesaving vaccines in off-grid regions; to Jaco Gerrits, the founder of CrashDetech (South Africa) who has created a smartphone app that automatically detects serious car crashes, pinpoints the location, and dispatches the nearest ambulance, supplying paramedics with real-time lifesaving information.

We’re really excited to be announcing Eva Longoria as a judge for Chivas’ The Venture. She has a clear passion for entrepreneurialism and the importance of business having a positive impact on our society. Along with Joe Huff, Sonal Shah and Alexandre Ricard, we feel we have the perfect balance of expert judges to evaluate the finalists of this year’s competition.

We look forward to seeing how people vote online over the next few weeks and which enterprises capture the imagination of the public.– Richard Black – Chivas Regal Global Brand Director

To find out more about the judges and to vote for your favourite finalists, visit www.TheVenture.com